Pharmacies Instructed not to Use Food Intolerance Tests

The Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland is as of this week instructing pharmacies to no longer perform food intolerance testing. This follows an advisory published by the Health Products Regulatory Authority that food intolerance testing can only be useful with expert guidance from a doctor or dietitian. The HPRA warns that any single food intolerance test does not have clinical usefulness, based on their survey of existing food intolerance testing products.

The PSI advises that pharmacies should continue to provide remedies and consult customers on gastrointestinal discomfort but that any consultation about changes to diet should only be with a doctor or dietitian and should not be provided by pharmacists.